Valve for semifluid material



Sheet of 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1968 a n M f i a m. W1 0 w W W u o h m o o j va a u m Wkllll n llll H y 51111 i :1 3 a; j u; w 1 2 M: F .L- M 2 H 9 nW 2 6 H .w

March 18, 1969 R. M. sour 3,433,466

VALVE FOR SEMIFLUID MATERIAL Filed Jan. 23, 1968 Sheet 2 of 2 INVENTO?6a United States Patent 3,433,466 VALVE FOR SEMIFLUID MATERIAL Reggie M.Bolt, 342 Camillo St., Sierra Madre, Calif. 91024 Filed Jan. 23, 1968,Ser. No. 700,329 U.S. Cl. 259-153 Int. Cl. B28c N22 7 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE This application relates to valving equipment and moreparticularly to an improved valve for handling semifluid materials suchas concrete mix while in the process of being pumped from one point toanother. It is well known to those in the trade that one of thedifiiculties encountered in the valving of semifiuid materials is theresistance of these materials to a change in their flow pattern. Anotherdifiiculty is the friction developed between the material and the pipesor ducts along which they are being conducted. It is common practice toslick up the pipes or ducting during the first stage of the pumpingoperation but with dry mixes this often disappears with increased energyrequired to pump or jamming of the material,

Therefore, to eliminate these and other difliculties, it is the generalobject of this invention to provide a unique and improved method oftransferring the material from the hopper of any pumping apparatus intothe cylinder of the pumping apparatus on its charging stroke and also toprovide a direct and continuous opening without pattern change for thepassage of the material being pumped from the discharge end of thepumping cylinder into the continuous ducting leading to the point ofplacement and to provide continuous lubrication between the material andthe conducting pipes or ducts throughout the pumping process.

Further and more particularly, another object of the invention is tomechanically introduce into the material and thoroughly mix with it,small bubbles of air before it is forced into the pumping cylinder. Thismakes the material more workable and increases the speed with which itcan be introduced into the pumping cylinder.

Further and more particularly, another object of the invention is toprovide means for forcing the material to be pumped into the pumpingcylinder.

Further and more particularly, another object of the invention is toprovide means to place a thin film of lubricant around the material tobe pumped as it passes through the valve on its way into the pumpingcylinder on the charging stroke.

Further and more particularly, another object of the invention is toprovide means to place a thin film of lubricant around the materialbeing pumped as it is forced from the pumping cylinder through the valveon its way to the continuous ducting leading to the point of placement.

Further and more particularly, another object of the invention is toprovide means to spray compressed air into the material before it entersthe continuous ducting leading to the point of placement. The sprayingof the compressed air in small particles evenly distributed into thematerial while it is under pressure and in form for passage into thecontinuous ducting, prevents the escape and displacement of the airparticles and places forward energy throughout the whole material massreducing the needed energy from the pumping piston and since the wholemass is under pressure, settling out of large particles is eliminatedand added air lubrication is provided between the material and theducting containing it while being pumped.

Further and more specifically, another object of this invention is toprovide a valve with a drum revolvable back and forth enclosed within ashell and provided with an opening through the drum and shell. At theend of each discharge stroke of the pumping piston the drum is revolvedto a point where the opening through the valve is lined up with theother pumping cylinder. The continuous ducting at the pump end must beof flexible hose and this is connected to the forward end of the valveopening which swings with the valve drum as it revolves into positionbetween strokes.

Further and more specifically, another object of this invention is toprovide a valve with a drum revolvable back and forth, enclosed within ashell and provided with two bent openings so positioned that when onecylinder of the pumping apparatus is discharging material through thevalve, one of the bent openings will provide a passageway for materialbeing introduced into the top of the drum and thence by way of the bentopening into the opposite cylinder which is being charged.

The accompanying drawings show four examples of the embodiments of thisinvention and the applications thereof. In the description of thesedrawings the term, Pump hole, will be taken in context to mean theopening through the valve connecting the pumping cylinder with thecontinuous ducting and the term Filler hole, will be taken in context tomean the bent opening or bent openings connecting the cylinder beingcharged with the material container located above the drum.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention valving apparatus with a portion broken away to show therevolving drum, the two filler holes and the pumping hole through thedrum.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention valving apparatus with a portion broken away to show theposition of the filler holes and the pumping hole during a pumpingstroke and the aerating apparatus above the drum.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention valving apparatus with a portion broken away to show thepumping hole through the drum and extending outside to the end of theair spray injection portion of the apparatus. The drawing shows thelubrication portion of the apparatus inside the drum followed by the airspray injection apparatus outside the drum.

FIGURE 4 is a top elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention valving apparatus showing the position of the pumping hole andone filler hole during a pumping stroke.

Referring first more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown apreferred embodiment of the valving apparatus designated as follows;Number 2 shows the revolvable drum, mounted on shaft 8 and enclosed byeasing 9. Number 10 shows the casing cut away to allow pump hole 3 torevolve to the position 'of filler hole 4 at the end of the pumpingstroke. When this occurs, filler hole 4 with its opening 7 leading tothe top of the drum, revolves to the position of filler hole 5 withopening 6. In the same movement filler hole 5 moves to the positionvacated by the pump hole 3 with its opening 6 at the top of the drumvacated by opening 7. Numbers 11 and 12 show the left hand and righthand flappers mounted on hollow shafts 14 and 13. Flapper unit 11revolves clockwise and flapper unit 12 revolves counter clockwise thetwo working together to force the material being pumped into openings 7or 6 alternately as these openings appear at the top of the drum onalternate strokes of the pump. Hollow shafts 14 and 13 are drilled withsmall holes along their lengths to allow air forced into the hollowshafts to enter the material being pumped and to be mixed into it by thefour flappers mounted on each shaft. Numbers 26 and 21 show thelubrication apparatus Within the filler holes. The apparatus isidentical to that within the pump hole which is shown more particularlyin FIGURE 3.

Also, referring more particularly to FIGURE 2 there is shown a preferredembodiment of the valving apparatus designated as follows; Numbers 4 and7 and 5 and 6 show the filler holes in a side elevation. Number 3 showsa side elevational view of the pump hole through the drum and extendingoutside to the termination of the air spray injection apparatus; Number18 shows the fitting for admission of air to the air spray injectionapparatus; Number 17 shows the fitting for admission of lubricant to thelubrication apparatus; Number shows the air cup over the open end of thehollow shaft; Number 1-6 is the opening in the cup for the admission ofair; Number 24 shows the small holes drilled in hollow shaft 14 foradmission of air to the material.

Also, referring more particularly to FIGURE 3 there is shown a sideelevational view of the pump hole with a portion broken away to show theconstruction of the lubrication apparatus and the air spray injectionapparatus. Number 22 shows the lubrication apparatus which consists of acylinder of smaller diameter than the pump hole. The opening between thelubrication cylinder and the pump hole cylinder is closed by welding atone end and left open at the other end. As the material is forcedthrough the pump hole opening through the drum, the

lubricant is forced around it. Number 19 shows the air spray injectionapparatus which is identical in construction to the lubricationapparatus with the exception that the opening between the inside aircylinder and the pump hole cylinder is closed at both ends, trapping theair and forcing it through the spray holes 23 into the material beingpumped.

Also, referring more particularly to FIGURE 4, the drawing shows a topelevation of the Valving apparatus. Numbers 4 and 7 show the filler holein pOSitiOn for charging one of the pumping cylinders.

While the particular valve for semifluid material herein shown anddisclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects andproviding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthat it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Valving apparatus for semifiuid materials, as concrete mix,comprising a drum revolvable back and forth, supported on a revolvableshaft and enclosed within a hollow shell, said shell extending above thetop half of the drum and containing within it, above the drum, mixingapparatus consisting of two revolvable hollow shafts with small holesdrilled therein along their lengths with fiappers mounted on the shaftsand positioned at right angles to the shafts; said drum containing twobent openings within the drum so positioned that one end of each openson the flat face of the drum extending therein in a bent direction tothe circular face of the drum, each bent opening containing in its upperpart lubrication apparatus consisting of an open cylinder of smallerdiameter than the opening and welded continuous on one end to the insideof the bent opening; said drum containing one straight openingconsisting of a hollow cylinder extending through the drum from the flatback face of the drum to a distance beyond the fiat front face of thedrum, said hollow cylinder containing lubrication apparatus consistingof an open cylinder of smaller diameter than the opening and weldedcontinuous on one end to the inside of the straight cylinder opening,said straight cylinder opening having at the other end outside the drum,air spray injection apparatus consisting of a hollow cylinder of smallerdiameter than the straight cylinder opening and drilled throughout itslength with various small holes and welded continuous on each end to theinside of the straight open- 2. Valving apparatus as defined in claim 1characterized in that said bent openings have each a hollow fittingtapped into the bent opening at a point near the closed end of thelubrication apparatus.

3. Valving apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidstraight opening through the valve has a hollow fitting tapped into thestraight opening at a point near the closed end of the lubricationapparatus.

4-. Valving apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidstraight opening through the valve has a hollow fitting tapped into thestraight opening at a point between the closed ends of the air sprayinjection apparatus.

5. Valving apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidmixing apparatus has a closed cup with a hollow fitting in the closedend welded continuously to the outside of the shell and over the end ofthe projecting hollow shaft.

6. Valving apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidbent openings where they end in the fiat back face of the drum arelocated on the same radius from the center of the drum as the end of thestraight opening through the drum and equidistant from said straightopening.

7. Valving apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in that saidshell has two openings cut through the shell congruent to the pumpingcylinders and of the same radius as the straight opening through thedrum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,363,230 12/1920 Clark 259l533,048,377 8/1962 Braitsch 2591 61 3,227,426 1/ 1966 Williams 259-1533,231,245 1/1966 Harvey 259-153 ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner,

